The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-17

MAP SHOWING CHICA- the ashes of its great
cos DRAINAGE AND conflagration, as was
THE HENNEPIN SO freely predicted it
CANAL. would lie. And l
think you will admit that it is pretty fair
city which our people have built on top of
the mud and above the ashes"
dyes" said my friend, who was gazing
intently at the water a few feet below the
bridge, "but how is a city like this drained!
Where do you get your water?"
Very natural questions these were too. For
reply TO the latter query. pointed to Lake
Michigan, no more than half mile away,
where the masts of many vessels and the tops
Of two lighthouses were visible.
"You get your water supply from the great
lake which lies at your feet, there? And you
pour your drainage into this river, and this
river empties into the same lake whence your
water supply comes? Queer taste you Chicago
ans have. Being a Prohibitionist, l don't
think should like to live in Chicago"
But babe my friend reserve his sneerS I'M
til he had learned more. Taking piece of
paper | threw it in the river beneath and
asked him to watch it. He was presently
astounded to observe that the piece of paper
floated slowly away from the lake.
"What!" he exclaimed, doesn't Chicago
river empty into Lake Michiganp
"No, indeed, and that simple fact explains
good many things. Did yon ever think
what unique engineering problem this is?
A city built a few feet above the level
of a currentless river and q tideless
lake. Into the one the drainage must
he turned, and from the other the water sup
ply taken. But that piece of paper there,
Il b 1,
situation. 1t happens, luckily for Chicago,
that the divide between the Lake Michigan
water shed, and that of the Gulf of Mexico, is
but fifteen miles from the lake. Through
that divide the Illinois canal was cut many
years ago to the Illinois river, which traverses
nearly the Whole length Of the state, and
| finally mingles with the waters of the MisSis-
sippi at historic Alton. This canal was Chi
cagos salvation By deepening its channel
she was able to change the course of nature,
and send the waters of Lake Michigan trick
| ling through canal and rivers to the Gulf Of
| Mexico. In other words, audacious Chicago
has made the Mississippi river her backdoor
gutter, and the great gulf her cesspool. By
sending her sewage to the west and south she
keeps sweet and clean the waters of the great
lake at her feet, and thus insures the purity of
her water supply So you see, my friend,
that Chicago has in her time solved several
interesting problems. She found way to
| lift herself out of the mud, she rose from her
ashes, and she has made the great Father of
Waters her servant. Chicago is no SLOUGH;
that you're bound to admit"
Ny friend was amazed. He. like q good
many other people, had heard something of
Chicago's drainage flowing into the Mississip-
pi river, but the case having never been
plainly and intelligibly stated to him, he had
paid little attention to it.
"Really," he said, II am much interested
"But is this canal big enough to carry off the
drainage of all Chicago and vicinity!"
"No, it is not, in its present condition. And
we now have a commission of high priced
experts at work seeking the best means of en-
larging the capacity of the drainage channel.
It is estimated that an expenditure Of three or
millions of money will do it, and in case the
Hennepin canal is constructed it may be
utilized not only for floating ships from the
Gulf of Mexico to Lake Michigan, but for
CARRYING Chicagos drainage in the other di-
rection. l think that if the truth were
, known it would be found that Chicago's chief
anxiety to have the government dig that
canal lies in its desire to solve the drainage
problem forever and ever. Chicago may be